Holiday Letter: The Santa Story

December 2024

Gerry’s first love was Christmas. Not only did he love the real, true meaning of Christmas, but he also loved the decorations, the magic, and especially the legend of Santa Claus. Decorating the family home took days, and the festive display, more often than not, was featured in stories in local media.

“Gerry truly loved being Santa,” explains his wife, Debbie. “One of his favourite things to do was to be Santa at local schools. He even appeared at our girls’ school events!”

“Not one of us knew our Dad was Santa!” laughed their daughters. “I remember being so angry that Dad wasn’t going to be at my school’s Christmas concert when I was in kindergarten…he told me he had to ‘work.’ Little did I know that the Santa who hosted the concert was my Dad!” says their daughter, Amanda.

With three girls in the house – Melissa, Rebecca, and Amanda – Gerry performed quite the bag of tricks to make sure he never spoiled the magic. Gerry’s love of the holiday spirit carried on throughout the year – he was Santa through and through. “His goal every day was to see how many people he could make smile,” says Debbie.

In February of 2022, Gerry was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. “It was a roller coaster for months; treatments, surgeries, hospitalizations,” says Rebecca. “Mom was exhausted, and we were all so worried about Dad. Coming to Hospice made all the difference – we could just be family again.”

Gerry was admitted to Hospice in November, and immediately wanted to turn his room into Santa’s Village – their “home away from home” for the holidays. “We loved that we could decorate his room with family pictures, mementoes, and all his Christmas things,” says Melissa.

“We are so grateful to each and every one who made us so welcome, and honoured Gerry’s love for Christmas,” says Debbie. “There was so much comfort in knowing he was not only safe and cared for, but that they took the time to know him, and support him in his Santa-ness.”

While in Hospice, Gerry told Hospice’s Dr. Cargill that he had one wish – he wanted to put that Santa suit on one more time. That was all the team at Hospice needed to hear – and they were going to make it happen!

To join Gerry when he hosted Visits From Santa in the Hospice Residence, all three of his daughters, and his wife, Debbie, got right into the spirit. Debbie dressed as Mrs. Claus and the girls were all decked out as Santa’s elves! “We had never done the Santa thing with all of us before,” says Melissa. “When Mom and all us girls came into his room dressed for the visit, my Dad burst into tears.”

Gerry and his girls brought so many smiles to the patients, families, staff, and volunteers at Hospice. He was truly Santa, and he carried the genuine spirit of the holidays with him.  

“Hospice care didn’t end when we lost Gerry,” says Debbie. “I have been part of two Hospice grief support groups since then, and I honestly don’t know what I would do without them. They’re helping me learn to understand my grief, and my daughters’, and to see that we are not alone.”

This is what you make possible with your donation to Hospice…care, support, and joyful celebrations of family and love all year ‘round.

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